Indian solar tender with up to 4.8 GWh of energy storage

India’s state-owned NHPC is tendering 1.2 GW of solar generation capacity collocated with 600 MW/2.4 GWh of energy storage. An additional PV capacity up to 1.2 GW collocated with energy storage is available depending on demand and bid value.

The prospective developers will build, own, and operate the projects on the land to be identified and arranged by them. “ESS of at least 0.5 MW/2 MWh capacity for every 1 MW contracted capacity must be installed as part of the project,” states the tender document. “The ESS may be owned by the solar power developer or tied-up separately with a third party for supply of power.”

NHPC will enter into a PPA with the selected developers for purchase of solar power for a period of 25 years. It will sell the power to the state utilities, distribution companies, and other beneficiaries.

The minimum project size is 50 MW (with a minimum ESS component of 25 MW/100 MWh), increasing in multiples of 10 MW thereafter under the ‘Open’ category, with a cap of 600 MW without the greenshoe option and 1,200 MW with it. For projects in the North-Eastern States and Special Category, the minimum contracted capacity offered by a bidder will be 30 MW.

From pv magazine India.